Chapter 1: Sophisticated Second Lady?

White House Chief of Staff Emily Rhodes staggered into the Oval Office, hardly able to believe what had just happened. She was breathless. She felt dizzy. Her eyes were barely able to focus on the President of the United States, circling the Resolute Desk. Tom Kirkman had his signature smile, removing his reading glasses with one hand as he so often did.

The presidency had aged him these past four years, Emily silently noted, and last fall's campaign to be elected in his own right had added hard lines to his face. But he was as ruggedly handsome, as relievingly sturdy, as ever.

"Emily, what's wrong? You look as though you've seen a ghost."

Emily stumbled towards the yellow couches and sank down into one. "The Vice President just asked me to marry him," she breathed.

Kirkman blinked, kind smile quivering just a bit. "What was that?"

Emily raised her eyes to his. "Aaron just asked me to marry him."

The President blinked in shock, before his grin broadened. "Em, that's fantastic news!" Then his expression dipped. "What did you say?"

Emily daintily lifted her right hand, where a diamond ring now sat, vaguely able to recall how she had blurted out a response to his proposal. "I said Yes," she whispered. She felt like she was floating outside her own body.

The President beamed. "Congratulations! Where did he do it?"

"In his office."

"He proposed to you in his office? Not at the Naval Observatory?"

"He was going to ask me in the Rose Garden, but was afraid the media would get wind." As Vice President, Aaron Shore was now under intense public scrutiny. His blossoming relationship with her had not been exempt from this reality.

Kirkman smiled down at her kindly. "While I'm thrilled for you both, I am saddened in one respect: you will have to resign as my Chief of Staff."

"Why would I do that?" Emily glanced to him, panicked. It was her job, her dream.

"Well, I don't think even you could be both Chief of Staff and Second Lady of the United States."

Emily nearly fainted off the couch as it sank in: someday soon, she would be Aaron Shore's wife. The wife of the Vice President of the United States. "Oh, my God... I'm going to be the Second Lady of the United States."

"To be technical, you already kind of are, as his fiancé."

Emily jumped and blinked at Seth Wright, the Communications Director seated on the couch across from her. She hadn't realized he was there, but then again, that was Seth - impossibly quiet unless he had something important to say, and when he did say it, people listened. "But you shouldn't be so panicked about it. If people barely know who you are now, they'll know you even less as wife of VPOTUS. Throughout history, the role of Second Lady has been largely inconsequential. Think Marilyn Quayle. Think Karen Pence. Outside of beatniks at coffee shop nights of nerd trivia, no one knows who those people are."

Emily frowned. "Gee, thanks, Seth." The President tried to hide a smile. Emily started wringing her hands, twisting the golden band around and around her finger. "I have a wedding to plan," it dawned on her. "I don't know who will officiate... I don't know who will walk me down the aisle..."

"Why wouldn't your father walk you down the aisle?" The President asked.

Emily smiled at him sadly. "He left when I was very young, Mr. President. And my mother, she... she was a heavy drinker, and a few years ago..."

"I'm sorry," Kirkman stared. In all the years he had known her, Emily had never opened up about her family life. His heart went out to his loyal aide so far that he blurted out:

"I'll do it."

Emily's heart stilled. "What?" she breathed.

"I'll walk you down the aisle. Hell, I'll marry you and Aaron. I can do both - I'm the President, for Christ's sake!"

Emily gasped, her eyes swimming with tears. The President of the United States had just offered to give her away. The President of the United States was willing to marry her to his Vice President. Whimpering, she impulsively leapt from the couch and threw her arms around her boss, breaking down completely.

"Oh, Tom!" She remembered herself. "I mean... Thank you, Mr. President."

Kirkman just smiled. "It would be my honor, Em."

"Well, you're just breaking precedent left and right, sir," Seth stood and dusted off his pants. "The first widowed President since Woodrow Wilson helping to marry the first bachelor Vice President since William Rufus King..."

"Now who's a beatnik acing coffee shop nerd trivia?" Kirkman's eyes twinkled.

Just then, the hidden wall door leading into the Oval Office opened and in ran Vice President Aaron Shore.

"Em!" he breathed, running to her. "You scared me! You said Yes and then just bolt? Are you all right?"

Resting her hands on his chest, Emily nodded. Kissing his lips lightly, she murmured, "The President just offered to officiate our wedding."

Aaron whirled around to stare at Kirkman. His jaw dropped. "Sir?"

Kirkman just dipped his head with a smile. "I can think of no greater pleasure. I'll also be walking Emily down the aisle, if that is acceptable."

Emily allowed a fresh round of tears to stream down her face. Aaron smiled gratefully.

"But you'll be hogging all the good jobs, sir! What about Leo?"

"Leo could be the ring bearer."

"Are you serious? He's too tall!"

"I want Penny to be the flower girl!" Emily squealed quite suddenly.

And the President's team continued making initial wedding plans for the next hour...